‘Halt. You’re entering a Raven Safe— Kyle!’ One of the guards, stocky and dark-skinned, grins, his teeth white in his face. ‘What are you doing here? Another day off?’
‘Declan!’ Kyle lets go of me to shake the guard’s hand. ‘Good to see you! Yes, another day off. Emily here has family in the Zone, so I said I’d take her in. You don’t need to check her, do you?’
‘We have to check every human who enters the Zone.’ The other guard is tall, pale, his long blond hair tied back in a ponytail. ‘To ensure they’re disease free. It will only take a moment.’
Shit. Why didn’t Kyle warn me?
‘Well, make it a quick moment – dawn is coming, and I need to get inside.’ Kyle’s tone is light but his hand, gripping mine, is tense. The tall guard grabs my wrist, pulling me into the building.
It’s dark inside; I can’t see much. I suppress a squeal as my jacket is pulled from my shoulders, then my shirt, leaving me in only my bra. Then the guard’s hands are on my body, the inside of my legs, turning one arm, then the other. He leans in to sniff my neck and I freeze. Shit. The anti-feed. It’s expensive stuff, not many people wear it.
‘Everything all right?’ I can hear the strain in Kyle’s voice.
‘She’s wearing anti-feed. And there’s no blood port anywhere. Where did she come from?’
Blood port? What the fuck is a blood port? I’m trembling with outrage and fear, outrage at his familiar touch, fear we’ll be found out. I’ll be fine, of course. But Kyle…
‘She’s a blood dancer. From the Raven estate. They don’t have blood ports, you know that. Free range never does. They always douse them in anti-feed whenever they have a day off. C’mon, man, I just said I’d take her to see her family. Let us through, will you?’
I hold my breath. The blond vampire is still touching me. Declan, the other guard, is standing nearby. ‘It’ll cost you.’
‘Fine.’ We have no choice, and Kyle knows it. ‘What do you want?’
‘A taste of your pretty companion.’
I freeze. Holy shit. I pray to god and darkness and everyone else I can think of. There’s a click and a small candle-lamp blooms on the desk.
‘What’s that for?’ Kyle sounds furious.
‘I want her to see me, while I feed from her.’
‘Absolutely not.’
‘Just a small bite. We rarely get to have free range. And your companion, despite the anti-feed, smells delicious.’ He holds my wrist, his nose moving along my arm to the crease of my elbow. I’m freezing cold and trying not to cry. A blood dancer, after all, would be used to such attentions. So we’re screwed.
Kyle’s silver eyes flick to me. ‘Five seconds.’
‘Thirty.’ Fuck.
‘Fifteen, and I’ll be timing you.’
‘Done.’ Before I can react the guard’s fangs drop and he bites down. I flinch, trying not to scream at the threading pull in my veins. How howhowdo blood dancers do this, day in and day out? A couple of tears escape and I try not to gasp. How the fuck long is fifteen seconds, anyway? It feels like fifteen hours.
‘You’re done. Let her go.’ Kyle’s fists are clenched, his face stone. But the guard doesn’t release me, sucking harder. I groan at the pain, unable to help it.
‘Let her fucking go!’ Kyle roars. He lunges forward, but Declan grabs him, holding him back. ‘She hasn’t taken any painkillers!’
Oh. So that’s how they do it. Or maybe they just get used to it. I’m starting to feel dizzy, and my eyes meet Declan’s, pleading. The pull in my veins gets stronger, the guard’s mouth locked onto my arm, his gulping swallows violent in their intensity. I don’t think I can take much more of this.
‘Please.’ The word is a whisper, breath leaving me. Kyle is still roaring, pulling free of Declan. But before he can reach me Declan is there, his hand on James’s throat, choking him.
‘Let her go – you’re taking too much. You don’t need another report, James. And I’ll fucking make one if you drain her dry here. You know Raven blood dancers are expensive – you damage this one and you’ll be for the pits.’ He shoves at the other guard who finally releases me, groaning, his lips dark with blood. My blood. Fucking hell. I feel sick.
‘I don’t care. It was worth it.’ He sinks back into a chair. ‘I’ve never tasted anything like it. Raven dancers really are the best.’
I’m half naked, cold and shaking. Blood runs from my elbow, pain radiating up to my shoulder.
Kyle catches me as I fall.
